Magi: The Kingdom of Magic
We all wanted to be magicians at some point in our lives, or maybe someone with a superpower that can help the world fight evil. But with great power comes great responsibility, as per the motto of a great hero we all look upon…
A-1 Pictures Studios created the anime series "Magi: The Kingdom of Magic." The manga series "Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic" served as its source. The world experienced the first season of Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic from October 7, 2012, until March 31, 2013. “Magi: The Kingdom of Magic,” the second season, debuted on October 6, 2013, and ran until March 30, 2014. ‘Magi: The Kingdom of Magic’ consisted of 25 episodes, each lasting 25 minutes, and was aired on MBS/TBS. It was licensed by Aniplex of America in North America. The series debuted on October 10, 2012, on Crunchyroll and Hulu, and its English-dubbed version was streamed on Viz Media's Neon Alley service starting on October 18, 2013. On June 27, 2017, a complete Blu-ray box set was released. In December 2019, Funimation added the series to its streaming service. Additionally, Madman Entertainment has licensed the series in Australia, Kazé in the UK (distributed by Manga Entertainment), and Viz Media Europe in Europe.
Koji Masunari directed the series, while Hiroyuki Yoshino edited the script. Toshifumi Akai was the chief animator and responsible for character designs. Akinori Mashima served as the editor, Ayu Kawamoto as the art director, and Yuho Taniuchi as the art designer. This series is a MAGI Production Committee presentation with other producers, including Aniplex, Dentsu, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Movic, and GYAO!. The music was composed by Shiro Sagisu.
The series featured action, adventure, and fantasy genres, targeting a Shounen demographic. It received a rating of PG-13 - suitable for teens aged 13 or older. To make it more interesting, the "Adventure of Sinbad" (OVAs) and "Adventure of SinSinbad" TV Series) came to life alongside a few fan books. A stage musical version of the series, titled "Magi" - Dungeon Kumikyoku, was announced for the series in March 2022. It was performed at the Tennozu Galaxy Theater in Tokyo from June 3 to 12, and at the Morinomiya Piloti Hall in Osaka from June 18 to 19 of the same year. The Nintendo 3DS game “Magi: The Labyrinth of Beginnings” was developed by Bandai Namco Games and released on February 21, 2013, in Japan. An update to the game added more playable characters, a new dungeon, and extra narrative content. The sequel to “The Labyrinth of Beginnings” is titled “A Whole New World.” It was made available on the 3DS. “Magi: The Labyrinth of Fate,” a Mobage social card fighting game, was created by Nexon for smartphones and feature phones, and it was released on November 21, 2012. Nexon released "Magi: Dungeons & Magic," an RPG mobile game, for smartphones on February 20, 2014.
“Magi” - most notably, the tales of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad the Sailor are among the many stories from One Thousand and One Nights, often known as Arabian Nights, on which the series is based. The setting for the novel is an alternative version of the ancient world, featuring several nations and locations that bear resemblance to their historical counterparts in various ways. In all living things on the planet, there is an essence called Rukh. When they pass away, this essence returns to the vast Rukh flow, also known as "guidance," which sustains all future beings in an endless cycle of reincarnation, referred to as "Fate." When a person's Rukh turns corrupted, unstable, or dark, it departs from the primary guidance and is overtaken by despair, rage, and hopelessness. This stage is referred to as "falling into depravity."
In this series, the protagonist is Aladdin, and the other main characters are Alibaba Saluja, Morgianna, and unforgettable supporting characters such as Sinbad, Hakuryuu Ren, Ja’far, and Judar. Aladdin and his pals leave Sindria after celebrating their victory against Al-Thamen. But after the fight, it's time for everyone to go their own way. It is mandated that Hakuryuu and Kougyoku return to the Kou Empire, where they were born. In the meantime, Aladdin declares that to learn more about magic and examine the strange happenings in this new realm, he must travel to Magnostadt, a secret nation controlled by wizards. Alibaba and Morgiana left in pursuit of their own objectives—training and visiting their own country, respectively—inspired by Aladdin's remarks.
The protagonist in “Magi,” Aladdin (Japanese: Arajin), is one of the four Magi in the present time. He is frequently referred to as Solomon's successor and is the son of King Solomon and Queen Sheba of Alma Torran. Ugo nurtured Aladdin in the Sacred Place before sending him to this world to battle Al-Thamen, a shadowy organization whose objectives are to bring chaos and darkness to the world and its populace. Aladdin's mission is to stop the horrific events that destroyed Alma Torran from happening again.
With bangs that end at his eyes and medium-length blue hair, Aladdin has a short, diminutive build. He has wide, blue eyes and a kind, upbeat persona that makes it easy for him to make friends. Since he didn't have friends before entering the world apart from Ugo, he highly values friendship. He's committed to getting stronger because he wants to be able to protect his friends. Aladdin exerts himself to the point of nearly dying from exhaustion while he defends and protects his friends from enemy attacks.
Morgiana (Japanese: Morujiana) is a member of the Fanalis hunting tribe, a pure-blooded tribe from the Dark Continent. Like all Fanalis, Morgiana has lovely pink eyes and hair. She comes off as a fascinating and strong character throughout the series. Morgiana is a shy person who doesn't say much but enjoys peculiar stuff. Despite being emotionally and physically resilient, she occasionally acts vulnerable around Alibaba, for whom she seems to have feelings. Alibaba Saluja (Japanese: Aribaba Saruja) is the former third Prince of the Balbadd Kingdom. He could be described as initially very sly and petty. But it turned out that he was genuinely polite, kind, and accommodating. He is an excellent negotiator who is more intelligent than he looks; his upper-class education from a young age has made him an excellent negotiator.
One of the other main characters in Magi is Hakuryuu Ren, the fourth prince of the Kou Empire, who comes from a chaotic background. He has a serious demeanor and worries over little matters too much. He may occasionally come off as defensive due to his inferiority complex. Next up is Judar, one of the four Magi of the present time, who is a magician focused on ice magic. He has black, medium-length hair pulled back into a long, segmented ponytail that reaches his ankles, red and ringed eyes, and black hair. His clothing and equipment are representative of Indian traditions. Sinbad, the former King of Sindria, stands out as a tall and handsome man with a tanned complexion and a strong frame. He has long, purple hair pulled back into a ponytail and golden eyes.
Epic battle sequences and significant transitions make for incredibly fluid animation. The addition of color combinations and action scenes serves to enhance the fantasy and action themes. It is recommended for masterfully executed epic battles. It is well-balanced between story, comedy, and conflict, and the characters don’t overdo it on the battlefield. The anime's music sometimes sends shivers down one's spine and gives off an epic, fantasy vibe. The opening theme song for the first part is "Anniversary" by SID, and the closing theme is "Eden" by Aqua Timez, while the opening theme song for the second half is "Hikari" by ViViD, and the closing music is "With You/With Me" by 9nine. Overall, it is a fantastic anime that can make one fall in love with the genre. For those who grew up reading fantasy books or watching vintage cartoons like Sinbad, Aladdin, or Alibaba, it will bring back many memories. So, grab your popcorn and try it—highly recommended!
